1. Then Rehoboam went to Shechem, for all Israel had come to Shechem to make him king.
2. And it happened that when Jeroboam the son of Nebat heard it—now he was in Egypt, where he had fled from the presence of King Solomon—Jeroboam returned from Egypt.
3. And they sent and called him. Then Jeroboam and all Israel went, and they spoke to Rehoboam, saying,
4. “Your father made our yoke heavy. Now, therefore, lighten the hard service of your father and his heavy yoke which he put upon us, and we will serve you.”
5. And he said to them, “In three days return to me again.” And the people went away.
6. Then King Rehoboam took counsel with the elders who had been serving before Solomon his father when he was alive, saying, “What word do you advise to answer this people?”
7. And they said to him, “If you will be good to this people and please them, then speak good words to them. Then they will be your servants forever.”
8. But he forsook the advice of the elders that advised him and took counsel of the young men who had grown up with him who were serving before him.